PORTSMOUTH — Russ Russo's tenure as the head football coach at Portsmouth High School is over after just three months, even before his first game.

Russo, who spent 16 years as an assistant on former coach Bill Murphy's staff, resigned for “personal and professional reasons,” the school announced on Tuesday. He is also a lieutenant on the city's police force.

“Short and sweet,” said Russo. “Like we say to the kids in the business, it's sudden change. Something came up in my professional life that I'm not able to pass by.”

Another longtime PHS assistant, Brian Pafford, who was one of the four finalists for the job back in April, has been promoted to head coach, athletic director Rus Wilson said in a statement.

“Brian has an excellent football pedigree and a great coaching mind,” said Wilson. “He works tirelessly and will do a great job with some of the finest assistant coaches in the state. We look forward to many championship runs with Brian at the helm.”

Pafford said he was as surprised as anybody when he got the news Monday afternoon.

“Shocked, really,” he said. “Obviously, I didn't expect that. … I had no inkling, no feeling, nothing. I'd talked to Russ several times over the summer.

“But I'm excited, because it was always the goal. I think it's pretty well-known I've wanted this position.”

The Clippers, winners of the last two Division III championships, will compete this fall in an expanded, 20-team Division II. The first practice is Aug. 14 and Pafford said he doesn't expect the 11th-hour coaching change to hinder things in any way.

“I don't see it as any issue whatsoever,” he said, noting that with longtime assistants Tim Hopley, Kevin Mills and John Iafolla returning, the core of the coaching staff remains intact.

Russo, who spent time as the program's defensive coordinator, said new professional responsibilities would have prevented him from giving the position the time it needed. He said he plans to remain involved with the Portsmouth Youth Football Association, where he serves as president of the executive council.

“It wasn't an easy decision,” he said. “But you look at it long term and what's good for your family.”

Russo's hiring to replace Murphy was not universally applauded back in April, in part because he was the only one of the four finalists who did not play his high school football at Portsmouth. Hopley and Traip Academy coach Ron Ross were the other candidates.

But Pafford, who many expected to get the job, said he was planning to remain on Russo's staff as an assistant. The recreation director for the town of Greenland and former head coach at York High School, he oversees many of the camps returning PHS players are participating in this summer.

“They're in excellent hands,” said Russo.

Wilson thanked Russo for the years he devoted to the program as a coach, during a transition that saw the Clippers evolve from Division II straggler to Division III power.

“Coach Russo did an outstanding job for us over the last 17 years, and his intensity and football acumen will be missed,” said Wilson. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”